United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Purchased Submachine Guns-Truth!

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Purchased Submachine Guns-Truth!

Summary of eRumor:

A forwarded email alleges that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a solicitation request for a number of .40 caliber submachine guns.
 

The Truth:

The USDA issued a solicitation request for .40 caliber submachine guns in May 2014, and the federal agency later received the weapons.

Federal Business Opportunities (FBO), which is also known as Fed Biz Ops, posted USDA’s solicitation request for submachine guns online. An online portal run by FBO enables vendors to review federal procurement opportunities that total more than $25,000.

The USDA sought a “commercial acquisition” of semi-automatic submachine guns that came equipped with Tritium night sights, rails for a flashlight mount and 30-round magazines, according to the solicitation request.

The USDA’s request was granted, too. A rep from the USDA’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) said the semi-automatic machine guns were acquired on September 9, 2014, CNN reports.

Criminal investigators at the USDA have been allowed to carry firearms since 1981.

“Regarding the need for weapons’ procurements, OIG’s investigations division conducts hundreds of criminal investigations each year, some of which involve OIG agents, USDA employees, and/or members of the public facing potentially life threatening situations,” USDA OIG Deputy Counsel Paul Feeney said.

In fact, a total of 73 federal agencies can arm their criminal investigators. The Department of Education raised eyebrows when it purchased 27 shotguns in 2010, the Washington Post reports.

Posted 10/01/14